Former AKP deputy expelled from party names successor to Erdoğan! 'Erdoğan's successor...'

As discussions regarding the post-Erdoğan era in the AKP have returned to the agenda in the upcoming period, a striking assessment has come from the party's former deputy, Hüseyin Kocabıyık.

Kocabıyık, who was expelled from the AKP after criticizing the operation against Ekrem İmamoğlu, made remarkable claims about the party's future in a statement he released on social media.

Kocabıyık stated that the real power struggle within the AKP is not taking place among politicians, but within the state bureaucracy. According to Kocabıyık, the ruling class, which is becoming increasingly decisive within the party, is in search of a tough, determined, and boundary-pushing leader. At this point, the person he highlights is Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek.

In his posts, Kocabıyık wrote: “The discussion about the post-Erdoğan era initiated by Şamil Tayyar and Mücahit Birinci is being misinterpreted. No one has any love or sympathy for Berat Albayrak or Bilal Erdoğan. The deep mind of the AK Party is avoiding a disaster scenario. Şamil and Mücahit Birinci are intelligent people. They see the danger and are looking for a remedy. Erdoğan's natural successor is Akın Gürlek. The new ruling class, which sees a dark future, especially in the bureaucracy, needs the protection of a daring, determined, and boundary-pushing leader. The only name in power with these qualities is Akın Gürlek. Özgür Özel would eat the others for breakfast. This is the information I have received from my AK Party friends. The future of the AK Party is not in the hands of politics or the Erdoğan family, but in the hands of today's bureaucracy, which possesses unlimited power.

"The top name in the bureaucracy is Akın Gürlek. Just look, while the Ministry of Agriculture and the Competition Authority exist, he is even managing the chickens. The country is entrusted to his steel-grip hands. Could he do these things if Erdoğan did not allow it? Based on my intuition, I say: Erdoğan's successor is Akın Gürlek. Erdoğan might even step aside in this election and pave the way for him."

HE HAD GONE TO PRISON AFTER BEING EXPELLED FROM THE AKP

Kocabıyık had previously drawn attention with his harsh reaction to the process of Ekrem İmamoğlu's arrest and his criticisms of the President. After these remarks in March 2025, Kocabıyık was expelled from the AKP, and in October 2025, he was sent to prison on charges of "insulting the President." After spending approximately two and a half months in prison, Kocabıyık was sentenced to 2 years, 5 months, and 5 days in prison in December 2025, but was released at the end of the hearing despite receiving the sentence.

News Source: 12punto